I pressed my face against the glass
Smiled as my breath made some pattern or other
The world beneath unfurled before me like a sail
Glinted in gold from this rich dawn sky
Awaiting the ship they had told me would come
Quietly anticipating that which was to come

I couldn't yet see you, still obscured by the city
The towers of glass reflected your coming
Silhouetted on the sunrise
Did I blink as I watched? Did I close my eyes?

I was not alone, I think it was the first time
Watching you rise splendid and graceful
I cheered as you sailed, a greatness unknown
I laughed as I waved and imagined you saw me
In the streets of the city, the windows of buildings
A million faces gazing upwards in wonder
A million faces together and cheering and smiling
You were the warmth of their hearts, you were the sum of their dreams
In the coldness of morning you brought warmth to their lives
Giving this feeling of wonder I could not imagine
You unlocking these thoughts no book and no picture could ever convey
This feeling and morning had opened a door
I stepped into a new world, I watched you fly
Saw you as a friend, the spirit of dreams
I imagined a new world, lands far away,
And imagined those faces as you hung in their sky

I'm leaving ground, stepping into a new world
I'm leaving ground, a new world and watching you fly
I stepped into, I stepped into a new world
I was not alone, I think it was the first time

I'm leaving ground, stepping into a new world
I'm leaving ground, stepping into a new world
Now I'm leaving home, leaving everything, leaving everything
I step into this new world leaving everything

I'm leaving ground, stepping into a new world
I'm leaving ground, stepping into a new world
Now I'm leaving home, leaving everything that I have ever known
I step into this new world leaving everything

Leaving everything, leaving everything


Lyrics submitted by EagleSword, edited by MailMan

Airships Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © ROB MOUNSEY D/B/A FLYING MONKEY MUSIC

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Airships song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    I can't believe I am the first person to comment on this song. -THIS SONG- (i think maybe it's because it's the last song on the new album and people just havn't 'discovered' it yet). I hate to say that I have a 'favorite' VNV Nation song over all, because I connect with all of my 'vnv favs' in a different way, but no song has ever moved me the way this one has. It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it, the message is so strong and means so much. I live out on gravel roads and such, and one evening I drove my car out to an open area, got on top of my car and blasted this song and watched the sun set while a thunderstorm approached in the distance. Sounds overly dramatic, but it was so beautiful.

    I believe in this song he is talking about going to 'heaven' or 'finding god', or perhaps dreaming about it?, and I think it's 'heaven' in a spiritual sence, and not just a city. - "I couldn't yet see you, still obscured by the city. The towers of glass reflected your comming.. silhouetted on the sunrise, did I blink as I watched? Did I close my eyes?"

    "I was not alone, I think it was the first time" - (because he's found himself) - so beautiful!!!!!

    ",you were the warmth of their hearts, you were the sum of their dreams. In the coldness of morning, you brought warmth to their lives" - ('god')

    "I could not imagine you unlocking these thoughts, no book and no picture could ever convey. This feeling and morning had opened a door," - (sounds like he's finding god, or seeing heaven)

    "I'm leaving ground, stepping into a new world..etc" - (going to heaven/finding himself)

    On a personal level, this song means so many little things and one big thing to me all at the same time. This is my 'ode to life'. The first thing it meant to me, was discovering myself and leaving the state that I'm in. Chasing down my dreams and following my heart. Then it reminded me of my cousin, and the beautiful person that she is. Her strength and wisdom have helped make my world a more livable place. She 'came out' to her parents, and then did something very difficult and left home for the first time to live with the love of her life, leaving everyone else she knew and loved behind. And it's also about how I'm discovering myself spiritually for the first time. I could go on and on... This song is so amazing and the whole world needs to hear it, and all of VNV Nation.

    Electric_Jungleon June 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I do agree with Electric Jungle... I think this song is way underrated. I think its beautiful. Not sure I get any religious references from it, but nonetheless its still beautiful.. I think it captures the whole 1920's vision of the future better than any other song on Futureperfect... and it paints a very pretty picture.

    GothicBladeon September 22, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't think I've heard this song, but a friend showed me the lyrics and, being a writer, I choose to interpret it to be about something someone has created--maybe a SOMEONE that someone has created.

    -cocks head- Although that would pose some problems. Ah, well, I'll save further judgement until I hear it. ^_^

    Linc

    LincolnIvoryon September 25, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've heard this song. I love it. But given that everyone's perception of it is their own, I offer the possibility of overanalyzation. In my view, it's about the sun. If it means more to you than that, you ROCK yo. It is regardless one of the best VNVN songs ever.

    montagninion March 31, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is really overshadowed by Beloved on the Futureperfect album. Personally my favourite song on said album, but most everyone disagrees with me.

    To me, the song is about hope, and wonder. Perhaps the most important things we can have if we ever want to make the world our world and build a better tomorrow.

    WanderingWushion May 08, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I, in the past year have had two of my close friends die and I'm only 16. This song reminds me of them, kind of like they are going to heaven... all the people watching and cheering are the lives that they have touched. After these friends of mine had died, it really put things into perspective... therefore, "stepping into a new world"... maybe. At least that's what the song means to me.

    whennitecomesdwnon July 02, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favourite VNV Nation song. The lyrics are beautiful and the music has that gentle vibe to it. I hope they play this when I see them live in June.

    [inactive account]on April 10, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song but maybe mine is different but there are some errors in your lyrics maybe its typos maybe you copy and pasted off some other site badly but errors all the same the second "verse" should go

    I couldn't yet see you. Still obscured by the city A towers of glass reflected your coming Silhouetted on the sunrise Did I blink as I watched? Did I close my eyes?

    the song then continues as follows in the middle (about) of what should be a third "verse"

    You were the warmth of their hearts, you were the sum of their dreams In the coldness of morning you brought warmth to their lives giving this feeling of wonder I could not imagine You unlocking these thoughts no book and no picture could ever convey

    sorry for making my post a correction..i love the song its great..

    theorbyon May 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song to me is about hope in death. The imagery and ambiences of the song are simply magical. This iconic airship rising up on a beautiful sunny day with a clear blue sky and sailing whilst people just stop, stare and smile sticks in my head whenever I listen to this song. For me, the protagonist is dieing and as he is nearing death he looks out of his window and sees the airship, and forgetting his ills and sorrows actually smiles and waves. At this moment he realizes that he'll go to a beautiful place when he dies and for the first time he accepts his fate and welcomes death and moving on.

    marcos_rexon October 29, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    after one of our cross country meets, i was driving home listening to this song and i started bawling. i was the slowest person on the team, and i usually finished dead last, minutes behind the person in front of me. that meet, though, was the first one where i was close enough to someone to beat them. so the line "i was not alone, i think it was the first time" really hit home, as did the part about "cheering and smiling." i love this song. it totally captures the moment and it...just...is awesome.

    halfaliveon December 20, 2004   Link

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